Ex-Benton stars help Monroe win Dixie Majors state championship

Former Benton standouts Branson Woodward and Jackson Rutledge helped the Monroe All-Stars win the Dixie Majors state championship in DeRidder.

Monroe advances to the Dixie Majors World Series, which begins July 30 in Ozark, Ala. The team went undefeated in the tournament, beating Madisonville, DeRidder and Jefferson Parish — all three by run rule — to reach the championship game. They defeated Jefferson Parish again in the finals 5-0.

Rutledge pitched five shutout innings in the title game. He allowed three hits, struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter.

Woodward, a first baseman, hit three home runs in the weekend games, including a grand slam in the opener. This is the fifth Dixie state championship team he’s played on. He won Jr. Boys, Boys and Pre-Majors with Bossier/Benton teams and was a member of last season’s champion Monroe team.